PChem Challenge Game: Reinforcing Learning in Physical Chemistry

Physical chemistry has an abstract and demanding nature, and research reveals that students hold negative dispositions toward it. The PChem Challenge Game described in this work is a board game developed to bring an enjoyable approach to reviewing quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, and chemical kineti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of chemical education Vol. 96; no. 6; pp. 1187 - 1193
Main Authors Kucukkal, Tugba G, Kahveci, Ajda
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Easton American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc 11.06.2019
American Chemical Society
Subjects
Chemical kinetics
Chemistry
College students
Decision analysis
Games
Higher education
Kinetics
Learning
Organic chemistry
Physical chemistry
Quantum chemistry
Reaction kinetics
Students
Teaching methods
Atomic Spectroscopy
Upper-Division Undergraduate
Quantum Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Student-Centered Learning
Humor/Puzzles/Games
Kinetics
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Summary:Physical chemistry has an abstract and demanding nature, and research reveals that students hold negative dispositions toward it. The PChem Challenge Game described in this work is a board game developed to bring an enjoyable approach to reviewing quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, and chemical kinetics concepts at an undergraduate level. The game rules are neither purely luck- nor knowledge-based. Therefore, regardless of background knowledge, all students have a chance to win. As revealed by student and faculty member comments as well as survey and SWOT analysis results, the PChem Challenge Game was engaging, enjoyable, and useful, serving as a tool that provided learning opportunities. Future educational research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the game in different higher education contexts.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00757